Avalanche Advisory
| Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains | Issued by Brett Kobernik for April 6, 2013 - 7:14am |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
Below 7,000 ft.
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bottom line Overall, most terrain has a LOW avalanche danger today. The danger may rise to MODERATE with any prolonged burst of snowfall. Natural wet avalanches are remotely possible so stay out of the bottom of steep avalanche paths and confined gullies where something may come down on you from above.
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current conditions It sure has felt like spring when I've ventured into the mountains this week. We've lost a noticeable amount of snow cover as I look around at bare ground on many sunny aspects and especially lower elevations. The couple of shots of new snow has been high density and has become damp fairly quickly following the snowfall. Many areas are "punchy" with deep boot penetration through damp unconsolidated snow. Yesterday, most areas above 7500 feet picked up a few inches of higher density new snow with the upper reaches of the Cottonwoods near the heads of the canyons in the 4 to 5 inch range. Temperatures are in the upper 20s above around 9000 feet or so and we have light westerly winds with moderate speed gusts along the ridges under overcast skies. |
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recent activity There were some small loose snow avalanches involving the new snow that are hardly worth a mention. Snow safety teams did note some active ski cutting earlier in the day during the apex of the snowfall. |
Avalanche Problem 1over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
Below 7,000 ft.
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description
The small amounts of recent new snow and anticipated snowfall during the day coupled with an overall cooling trend point to a mostly LOW overall avalanche danger today. Keep in mind that there is always some danger of avalanches in the backcountry especially if you choose to get into steep radical terrain or are lingering in confined terrain such as gully bottoms or couliors. A natural wet snow avalanche, especially a glide avalanche that breaks to the ground is the biggest threat of a large dangerous avalanche. It is not wise to travel for more than a short period of time in the bottom of any drainages or gullies that have larger steep avalanche paths above them. If you avoid doing this, you'll most likely avoid any serious wet snow avalanche concern today. Any new snowfall that occurs during the spring can be unstable especially when it's falling. It generally stabilizes fairly rapidly but it can become unstable again as it heats up for the first time. Pay attention to how sensitive the new snow is during periods of snowfall and then make sure you're not in confined terrain or below obvious avalanche paths if things heat up and become unstable after the new snow falls.
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weather We're in a westerly flow that's pushing a batch of clouds through this morning. Things might break up a bit mid day but it will most likely be kind of 'in and out' with the chance of snow showers. Temperatures won't get real warm today but still will max out in the low 40s at 8000 feet and low 30s along the ridges. We'll have increasing winds, partly cloudy skies and chances for snow on Sunday again. A larger more pronounced weather system will move through Sunday evening into Tuesday that may produce more significant snowfall accumulation. |